The Experience - Summer 2011

SUMMER

2011

The Experience T h e m a g a z i n e o f WA R N E R PA C I F I C C O L L E G E

Ministry PDX

New Christian Ministries internships help students explore innovative ways to minister in the city. | Pg. 8

THE EXPERIENCE MAGAZINE Summer 2011 EDITOR / DESIGNER SCOTT A. THOMPSON sthompson@warnerpacific.edu 503.517.1123 CONTRIBUTORS PATRICIA KEPPLER ’10 LAUREN MURTIDJAJA ’11 ELI RITCHIE DeANN SMETNA ’07 PHOTOGRAPHY SCOTT A. THOMPSON DEREK BRADFORD ’90 JOHN JOHNSON VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT KEVIN M. BRYANT 503.517.1220 kmbryant@warnerpacific.edu EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COLLEGE RELATIONS LANI E. FAITH 503.517.1369 lfaith@warnerpacific.edu DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI, CHURCH AND PARENT RELATIONS CINDY POLLARD ’03, ’08 (MMOL) 503.517.1026 cpollard@warnerpacific.edu “The Experience” is produced three times a year by Warner Pacific College for alumni and constituents. Opinions expressed are those of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect official policies of Warner Pacific.

Warner Pacific is an urban, Christ-centered liberal arts college dedicated to providing students from diverse backgrounds an education that prepares them for the spiritual, moral, social, vocational, and technological challenges of the 21st Century. WPC is affiliated with the Church of God, Anderson, Ind.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Called to the city

M

artha Stortz, a dean at Augsburg College, once said that “calling” is all about location – not just physical location, but also theological location.

“Calling always comes from and to a particular place,” she writes.“The interplay in vocation between divine address and concrete context creates a lived experience that is thick, messy – and real. That means that whenever calling hits the ground, sparks fly.”

President Andrea

P. Cook, Ph.D. The Portland metropolitan area is a place of challenge, but also a place of grace – it is the physical place or context of our location.

I can attest to the fact that sparks are flying at Warner Pacific College in some profound and exciting ways.

We cannot live out our calling as an urban institution without a proper understanding of who we are collectively and why God has placed us in this city. We understand that the work we do here and now extends to impact a broader context—touching every community and city in this country and around the world to which our students and alumni are called to serve. The world is urbanizing, and cities need diverse, faithful, educated Christians who understand the dynamics and implications of an urban setting. To love the city is to be committed to its infrastructure…its environment…its economy….its people…. and its soul.

We cannot live out our calling as an urban institution without a proper understanding of who we are collectively and why God has placed us in this city.

We recognize our theological “location” in being a Wesleyan Holiness tradition college within the Church of God Reformation Movement. Scripture, reason, tradition and experience frame our theology of how we know God. The importance of unity and inclusion resonate. And according to John Wesley, faith was not just about personal holiness, but also social holiness – not only promoting personal growth but also equipping and mobilizing people for mission and service in the world.

Our students today believe they can make a difference. They love Jesus and they want to engage in significant ways to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. Our role as an urban Christian liberal arts college is to prepare them to do this work as faithful servant leaders who are able to authentically engage in sharing the gospel with their neighbors.

In this issue of “The Experience,” we explore the question of how to minister to the city, both here and abroad. From our Religion and Christian Ministries students completing internships where they develop authentic and trusting relationships with homeless friends, to a social work major reflecting on her experience with the church in Myanmar, the opportunities are great for our students to serve and learn in urban contexts.

Our location in the city is not a deterrent for growth. Rather, it is our greatest asset. The city’s identity marker is not dysfunction. The city is a place of common grace. Simply put, the city is not an inconvenience — it is who we are. It is where we are placed by God. It’s the place we experience God’s Grace and presence. It’s where God is.

Warner Pacific College 2219 SE 68th Ave Portland, OR 97215 503.517.1020 warnerpacific.edu

With warm regards,

©2011 Warner Pacific College

Andrea P. Cook, Ph.D. President

ON THE COVER Portland pastor Ken Loyd and Warner Pacific student Krystall Estrella ’12 photographed by Scott A. Thompson.

THE EXPERIENCE Summer 2011

Scott A. Thompson

MINISTRY IN FOCUS Warner Pacific students Rachel Plyler (left, on bench) and Krystal Estrella ’12 (far right) talk with Portland minister Ken Loyd in downtown Portland while camera operator Corey Drayton of Funnelbox Studios films the conversation for a new promotional video for WP’s Christian Ministries Program. The video can be viewed at www.warnerpacific.edu.

INSIDE

11 WISDOM FROM THE STREETS Psychologist Dr. Kedric Cecil ’75

4 NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

WP’s new vocal group “Bridgetown”

launches with the help of an industry veteran.

Scott A. Thompson

5 SEARCHING FOR THE ORIGINS OF HEALTH RISK Biology professor Elizabeth DuPriest researches

connections between low birth rate and obesity.

7

RICH IN SPIRIT A WP student travels to Myanmar to serve the church and the poor, only to gain a lesson in what it means to receive. | By Lauren Murtidjaja ’11

8

FEATURE STORY: MINISTRY PDX New Christian Ministries internships help students explore innovative ways to minister in the city, while discovering God’s call in the process. | By Scott A. Thompson

writes a candid memoir using his past as a runaway teen to help others heal.

15 FIRST PERSON: AMBITIOUS VISION Recently appointed to the Oregon

Commission for the Blind, a Warner Pacific graduate student wants to show people with disabilities they too can dream big.

By Patricia Keppler ’10

DEPARTMENTS

4

College News

12

Alumni News

14

In Memoriam

Summer 2011 | The Experience

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Scott A. Thompson

COLLEGE NEWS

The first iteration of the Warner Pacific’s new vocal group Bridgetown performs at Spring Commencement, May 7, at City Bible Church, in Portland: (L to R) Josh Wier ’11, Robin Bowman ’12, Daniel Ryan ’14, Andrew Vulgan ’13, Jon Quesenberry ’11, and Nic Bettis ’13.

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Mastered by Scott Hyble at Northstar Studios

Listen to selections from Bridgetown’s new CD at www.warnerpacific.edu/Bridgetown.

CDs can also be ordered for $5 each.

Bridgetown Music WARNING: All Rights Reserved Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable law

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Produced by Jason Overstreet

Piano Jason Overstreet

Percussion / Vocal Percussion Daniel Ryan

Vocals Nic Bettis Jon Quesenberry Josh Wier Robin Bowman Daniel Ryan Andrew Vulgan

Four Years written by Jon McLaughlin Universal Music, MGB Songs OBO Jon McGlaughlin Music used by permission

Grace written by Nathan Arnold Adapted from RESCUE used by permission

Battle Hymn public domain Julia Ward Howe 1862 Adapted from RESCUE

College mentorship program focuses on improving high school graduation rates

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www.warnerpacific.edu • for bookings call 503.517.1150

professional Christian vocal group RESCUE and a longtime friend of WP president Andrea Cook. Overstreet says the goal of Bridgetown is to encourage Christians in the church and to present the gospel to nonbelievers. He also sees it as an opportunity not only to mentor students in their vocal performance and recording skills, but to help them grow spiritually, as well.

“My heart is to help these guys grow in their musical, technical, leadership and relational skills as they move toward future ministry,” said Overstreet.

The group is available for bookings at 503.517.1150.

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ans of inspirational vocal music are in for a treat. Warner Pacific has created the men’s vocal ensemble “Bridgetown” to serve as an outreach ministry for the college. Following auditions, the group formed in January and has since recorded a debut CD featuring graduating seniors Josh Wier ’11 and Jon Quesenberry ’11, junior Robin Bowman ’12, sophomores Andrew Vulgan ’13 and Nic Bettis ’13, and freshman Daniel Ryan ’14. Although vocally-based, the group utilizes some hand percussion and piano in its arrangements.

The group is under the direction of Jason Overstreet, founder and producer of the

All songs arranged, recorded, edited and mixed by Jason Overstreet at RESCUE studios and WPC studios

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Vocal group “Bridgetown” launches with the help of an industry veteran.

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his year marked the first major partnership between Warner Pacific College and the federal program AmeriCorps to improve graduation and attendance rates of Portland public high school students. Operated by AmeriCorps employee Eli Ritchie who worked out of an office at Warner Pacific’s Mt.Tabor campus - the AmeriCorps Retention Project enlisted 12 college students and five community members to mentor a select group of students at NE Portland’s Madison High School.

Similar programs started in other Oregon colleges and universities this year as part of a new effort through AmeriCorps to impact Oregon high schools in general, with a special focus on Portland, where only 53 percent of public high school students graduate in four years. Nearly all the high school seniors in the mentoring program will be attending college next year.

“Probably my favorite part of the project was simply building a relationship with [my student]” said WP junior Tina Dewberry ’12 “She is pretty lost in the whole career and college process, and I can really relate to that since I was in her position not that long ago.”

Next year, the Retention Project will add a program at SE Portland’s Franklin High School in hopes of increasing the number of mentors and high school students involved.

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The Experience | Summer 2011

Martin

Rosado

Bradford

Goble

Meet four of Warner Pacific’s best This spring, Warner Pacific honored four employees for outstanding service to the campus community.

• Business professor Dr. Roger Martin ’94

Faculty Person of the Year (as voted by students)

Kendall Excellence in Teaching Award (as voted by faculty) • Urban Studies Director Dr. Caleb Rosado

Kendall Excellence in Scholarship Award (as voted by faculty) • Media Specialist Derek Bradford ’90

Staff Person of the Year (as voted by students) • History professor Dr. Luke Goble Faculty Involvement Award (as voted by students)

R E SEAR C H

Searching for the origins of health risk Biology professor Elizabeth DuPriest researches connections between low birth weight and obesity.

T

Scott A. Thompson

he risk of developing chronic illnesses like diabetes or heart disease might actually begin at the earliest stages of life, according to Warner Pacific biology professor Elizabeth DuPriest, Ph.D. She will present two abstracts at the Seventh World Congress on Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHD) in Portland this September, based on research she helped conduct at Oregon Health Science University (OHSU) in the lab of Dr. Susan P. Bagby in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension.

DuPriest earned a Ph.D. in integrative biomedical sciences at OHSU before joining the Warner Pacific faculty in 2009, and has continued to do research in her spare time. Her principal research examined the connection between low birth weight and the development of obesity in adult swine.

The lab compared a group of low birth weight pigs whose mother had received a low protein diet while pregnant with a second set of normal-weight swine that served as a control group. Based on previous research, the lab predicted that the low birth weight piglets would show a greater propensity toward obesity as they aged.This didn’t prove the case.

However, the pigs did show significantly lower levels of an important hormone called adiponectin, which appears to play a role in protecting the body from heart disease and diabetes.

“We’ve shown with these low protein offspring, that even though they are not obese, they are producing low amounts of adiponectin,” DuPriest said. “Maybe this adiponenctin is the link to elevated cardiovascular risk and elevated diabetes risk.”

DOHD research is based on the work of English epidemiologist Dr. David Barker, who has shown that full term babies born with low birth weights demonstrate a greater risk for developing cardiovascular disease as adults. The so called “Barker Hypothesis”

Dr. Elizabeth DuPriest has continued research she started as a doctoral candidate at Oregon Health and Science University.

has since expanded to other chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and obesity.

DuPriest believes this research has important implications on obstetrics and the advice that pregnant mother receive in terms of nutrition and weight gain.

“Obstetrics has gone through different phases, where women have been told to gain as much weight as they can and others where they’re told not to gain any weight,” said DuPriest. “That has caused some changes in the demographics of disease. The times when mothers were told not to gain weight, the babies have been smaller. That causes babies 60 years down the road to have more problems.We’ve been playing these grand experiments with society not even realizing what we were doing. It’s fascinating research.”

Afternoon Tea raises $25,000 for scholarships

Derek Bradford ’90

E

WP President Andrea Cook (left) with Award-winning Oregon author and guest speaker Jane Kirkpatrick at the second annual President’s Tea, held April 9.

mbracing possiblities was the central theme of Warner Pacific’s second annual “Afternoon Tea with the President” fund-raiser, which drew nearly 300 women to McGuire Auditorium April 9.Through table sponsorships, a silent auction, and individual donations, the event raised $25,000 in scholarship funds for female students – twice as much as the previous year’s tea.

The featured speaker was award-winning Oregon author Jane Kirkpatrick, who shared her personal story of starting a successful literary career in mid-life only after moving to a remote Eastern Oregon ranch, 11 miles from the nearest paved road.The former director of the mental health program in Deschutes County, Kirkpatrick has written 20 books, including 17 historical novels, and is a nominee for a 2011 Oregon Book Award for fiction. Kirkpatrick encouraged audience members to take courage and choose the experiences they want to have and value their personal stories.

“Stories are the most powerful way we have of organizing human experience,” said Kirkpatrick. “That’s how we transfer culture from one generation to the next.”

Next year’s tea is scheduled for Saturday, April 14, 2012, in McGuire Auditorium on the college’s Tabor campus. The guest speaker will be announced at a later date. To listen to Kirkpatrick’s presentation, visit the “Real Stories” section of www.warnerpacific.edu.

Summer 2011 | The Experience

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John Johnson

Rich in spirit A WP student travels to Myanmar to serve the church and the poor, only to gain a lesson in what it means to receive.

By Lauren Murtidjaja ’11

A

small voice cried from outside of our van. “Cezupyubi, ma’am.” Turning, I saw two, tiny brown hands reaching in through our windows. Long strings of white, fragrant jasmine blossoms dangled from the dirty fingers. Behind those fingers stood a young girl, maybe ten or eleven. Her eyes peered sadly into mine as she repeated, “Cezupyubi, ma’am?” The aroma of the flowers spread throughout our musty van.

We had arrived in Yangon, Myanmar on a humid, overcast day in May 2009 to lead a leadership and missions conference for the Myanmar Church of God. We had been in the country less than an hour and we were already surrounded by beggars.

My heart broke as I stared back into those dark, sad eyes. I wanted to turn away, but for some reason I could not break contact with this young beggar girl. I looked down and saw that her arms were half the size of mine and her shoulder blades were practically breaking through her thin skin.“Cezupyubi,” she cried a little louder as the traffic began clearing and our car slowly moved forward.

As we rolled away, my professor’s voice broke through my thoughts,“Are you OK, Lauren?” he said. I smiled at him and looked back out the window, lost in all the new sights and sounds of the bustling city around me.

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ocked between India, China,Thailand, and the Indian Ocean, the small country of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is easy to miss. Ruled by an oppressive military regime since 1962, the majority of the population lives in poverty while those in power soak up Myanmar’s rich resources. The fact that the people are devout in their Buddhist religion also creates an odd visual dichotomy throughout the country. It is typical to see malnourished and destitute people surrounded by thousands of Buddhist temples overlaid with pure gold.

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The Experience | Summer 2011

Our professor, Dr. John Johnson, led a motley missions crew of students, including Ruby Mitchell ’09, Andrew Mugford ’10, Rebecca Shrout ’10, and me. As soon as our van drove up to our host church, children with wide smiles surrounded us.

“Mingalaba! Mingalaba!” they squealed. One by one we stumbled out of the van and were greeted with handshakes and hugs.

“Mingalaba! Welcome friends!” exclaimed one of the young church leaders, Daniel. “Please, come! We will take your bags!”

Several young men rushed to take our bags. We were led to the office where a few young girls rushed to bring us tea, juice, and fruit.

I watched, astounded by the overt enthusiasm that these people had to serve us. I thought, “I can’t accept this. I can take care of my own stuff. I don’t want them to feel like we’re anything special.”

Daniel walked into the office with a giant electrical fan and placed it in front of us. Within the hour, we had memorized and perfected the Burmese thank you, “Cezu tinbadeh.” But I couldn’t stop the troubling thoughts of these poor, sweet people treating us like we were celebrities.

W

e were halfway through the conference when everybody informed us that there would be a talent show the next night. When the evening finally came, we sat and watched three hours of singing, dancing, and acting. But the highlight of the night came when I realized that we foreigners were not so special, after all.

Outside the church, a torrent of rain was pouring down. A tarp under which children were playing began sagging under the weight of the water. Several young men ran back and forth outside, working on the tarp. During the entire talent show, these men ran back and forth, soaked to the bone with smiles on their faces, to fix the tarp.

The room inside the church was getting steamy.The men moved the fans away from us and toward the sweating performers on stage.

“So sorry,” apologized one young leader,“You can sit by the door.

Air will come in.” I smiled, a little shocked but pleased to see the attention finally being taken off of us.

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ne morning, our driver picked us up and we entered the crowded city streets. There was no structure on the busy roads. Cars pulled out in front of each other without warning, and there were no clear lanes visible.

“How do people do this?” I wondered as I imagined driving my dusty white ’98 Chevy Cavalier through the combustion. Not only were the streets filled with vehicles, but people kept running in front of the cars.

“Cezupyubi, ma’am!” Two little beggar boys rushed up to the van windows. “They sure know who to go to,” Dr. John said as I tried to look away.

I

was overwhelmed by all the poverty and chaos I saw around me.

I wanted to be the one to help. I wanted to be the one to empathize. I was even good at it, as I was clearly marked as the one who all the beggars targeted. In reality, though Myanmar was full of the most severe cases of physical poverty and even danger I had seen, the people were richer in spirit, love, and servanthood than anyone I’ve ever come across. I will never forget watching them take care of each other, realizing that they “got it”. In fact, they got it more than I did. Not only did they serve, but they did it with love, joy, and nothing else.

Lauren Murtidjaja ’11 graduated in May with a B.S. degree in social work.

Scott A. Thompson

COLLEGE NEWS

FINISHING WHAT THEY STARTED (GIVE OR TAKE A DECADE OR TWO) Spring Commencement was especially eventful for graduates Shirell Hennessy ’11 (left) and Gary Hemenway ’11, both of whom had originally attended Warner Pacific College as traditional students in the 1980s, only to leave a few credits shy of graduating. Over the ensuing years, Hennessy forged a successful career in marketing, while Hemenway went on to work as a music minister, professional musician, and church planter. They each returned this past year as full-time traditional students to finish their long awaited bachelor of art degrees, Hennessy in English and Hemenway in Applied Music.

WARNER PACIFIC BECOMES FIRST OREGON COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY TO JOIN HISPANIC ASSOCIATION

VALENTINE SUCCEEDS FATHER AS MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH

Valentine

Warner Pacific College has selected Jared Valentine ’01 as head coach of the men’s basketball program following a national search.

He succeeds his father, Bart Valentine ’75, who retired in March after coaching the Knights for 12 seasons.

“It’s an incredible

Scott A. Thompson

Warner Pacific College has become the first institution of higher education in Oregon to join the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) as a partnering institution. HACU represents 400 colleges and universities that are committed to the academic success of Latino students in the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as Latin America and Europe.

The benefits of joining HACU include general advocacy, access to conferences and events, and faculty and staff development.

More importantly,WP students will be eligible for academic scholarships, paid federal and corporate internships, and job search services through HACU.

The college’s Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) presentation team of (L to R) Tyeson Wood ’11, Fatina Santiago ’11, Marina Apa ’13, and Tyber Parsons ’12 competed at the 2011 U.S. National SIFE Exposition in Minneapolis in May.

honor to build upon what my father and all of the current and former players have done for this program,” said Valentine.

Valentine played two seasons for Warner Pacific (1999-01) and led the Knights to the NCCAA National Tournament in 2000.

After graduating in 2001,Valentine joined the Warner Pacific coaching staff as an assistant.

This past season, he was the associate head coach. In addition to his coaching duties, Valentine will continue to serve in his current role as the Interim Assistant Dean of Student Affairs.

SIFE TEAM WINS REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, COMPETES AT NATIONALS

A four-member team representing Warner Pacific’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) chapter competed at the 2011 U.S. National

SIFE Exposition in Minneapolis, Minn., in May. The team of Tyeson Wood ’11, Fatina Santiago ’11, Marina Apa ’13, and Tyber Parsons ’12 earned a spot at nationals after becoming one of six league champions at regional competition in San Francisco, Calif. in March.

SIFE is an inter national non-profit organization that encourages college students to become socially responsible business leaders. For the competition, the WP team gave a polished presentation describing the many service projects they helped run during the previous year, which included teaching business strategies to children on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, providing job search training at a shelter for women and children, and co-hosting the 2nd Annual Career Expo on Warner Pacific’s Tabor campus.

Summer 2011 | The Experience

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COVER STORY

Scott A. Thompson

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Warner Pacific Christian Ministries major Krystal Estrella ’13 visits with Home PDX pastor Ken Loyd during an impromptu gathering of homeless youth in downtown Portland.

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yra Butler ’12 wasn’t sure what she would say as she approached the two homeless 17-year-olds sitting on a bench in downtown Portland on a frigid Tuesday night last winter.

The Warner Pacific Christian Ministries major was attending an outdoor church gathering as part of an internship with Home PDX, a ministry that reaches out to (and is comprised primarily of) homeless people. One of the male church leaders had approached the apparent runaways, a boy and a girl, but they refused to talk to him, so he asked Butler to give it a try. She quickly learned of the dire straits in which these two kids had put themselves.

“They opened up to me in five minutes about how they [had] run away from a group home and had nowhere to go and nothing to help support them, and my heart broke,” Butler later wrote in a personal reflection about the experience. “I knew they shouldn’t have run away, but they were stranded in Portland when it was 28 degrees outside, and I was scared for them.That night, I learned how to call for assistance… I also learned how to provide them with the resources they needed to survive, at least for the night, and was 8

The Experience | Summer 2011

able to get them to a shelter safely. That night was the most real, engaging, and growing thing I have faced in a really long time. And I feel like I am better equipped for youth ministry because of it.”

Butler’s internship came as the result of a strategic redesign by the college’s Religion and Christian Ministries (RCM) Department to better train students to minister in challenging, urban contexts.

Bolstered by a three-year, $290,000 grant from the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust received last year, Warner Pacific has been able to partner with a number of local ministries to mentor interns, introducing them to non-traditional approaches to ministry and helping them identify their personal call to ministry.

“We asked, ‘What do we want students to learn in these internships?’” said Dr. Jess Bielman ’00,Warner Pacific’s Executive Director of Contextualized Ministries and the author of the Murdock grant.

“It seems like a basic question, but when we looked at our school mission statement, we think our job is to prepare students for an urban Northwest, 21st century context. How does that inform the situations we put our students in?”

nistry

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New Christian Ministries internships help students explore innovative ways to minister in the city.

By Scott A. Thompson

T

he revisions to the Christian Ministries (CM) internships were part of a complete overhaul of the Religion and Christian Ministries curriculum completed last spring.The changes came in the wake of recommendations made by a special blue ribbon panel the college convened in 2009 to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Among many recommendations, the panel gave top priority to giving students practical ministry opportunities that were more in keeping with Warner Pacific’s emerging identity as an urban college.

“In the past, I think this department was known for intellectual rigor,” said RCM department chair Dr. John Johnson. “It prepared students for seminary. What the blue ribbon panel said was, ‘You’re doing a good job with that, but how are you preparing students for practical ministry?’”

At the time, internship placement was essentially a student’s decision. Often, students would arrange an internship at a church where they were already working or volunteering. The blue ribbon panel felt internships should tie in better with the college’s urban mission.

“[Christ] has called us to make relationships with those in need – to share the gospel with them through our love, to listen to those in need and make them feel worthwhile.”

- Jacob Hess ’13 Christian Ministries intern

“Students could do pretty much what they wanted for internships,” said Johnson. “The blue ribbon panel didn’t think that was training.

How does that connect with the urban recognition of the school?

We really felt we needed to expose our students to a more focused view of ministry. They didn’t know what was out there.”

Propelled by the blue ribbon panel’s recommendations, Bielman wrote the Murdock grant as a blueprint for a plan to create strategic mentorship opportunities for RCM students. The Murdock grant would provide stipends for local ministers to host WP interns, effectively increasing the options for internship sites.

“The Murdock grant basically bought us access,” said Bielman.

“We’re trying to get [students] to have a variety of expressions of Christian ministry, not necessarily to convert them all to these types of ministries, but somehow to hear their call in the diversity of the experiences.”

This past academic year saw the first implementation of the RCM internship redesign through two sophomore-level classes called “Exploring God’s Call” and “Experiencing God’s Call.” The courses were created to help students identify their inherent personality traits and strengths, examine various Biblical “calling” narratives – such as the story of Abraham or the Apostle Paul - and finally, examine larger questions about what ministry looks like.

“It is really asking the question, ‘Who are you and who has God created you to be?’” said Johnson. “The second piece is ‘What does scripture say about call?’ The third is, ‘What does ministry look like and how do we interact with the church?’”

To compliment the classroom study, students completed separate, six-week observational internships with distinctly non-traditional ministries, including Home PDX, a community development organization called Second Stories, and a small church that meets in two Portland pubs. (A fourth internship site was with high school mentoring program Young Life.)

In many cases, students had never encountered these approaches to ministry and it stirred ample conversation and reflection.

“We tend to have preconceived notions about people,” said CM major Max Scholtan ’12.“ Though stereotypes are there for a reason, I think we’ve all learned in our lives that … when you meet and really get to know somebody, that stereotype pretty much breaks down.”

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hether it is his silvery Mohawk hair cut, facial piercings, or colorful tatoos, Ken Loyd will test any stereotype of what a middle-aged pastor should look like. Loyd is one of the founders of Home PDX, and though he lives in a house of his own, he will say unequivocally that “his people” are those who live outside.

Years ago, Loyd was one of 15 pastors on staff at a suburban mega church in Everett, Wash. But 13 years ago, Loyd and his wife, Continued on page 10 Summer 2011 | The Experience

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COVER STORY Continued from page 9 Deborah, left the comforts of that life to move to Portland to start a church called The Bridge, which attracted a lot of young people who felt disenfranchised from mainstream churches. Loyd left The Bridge nearly five years ago to launch Home PDX. Loyd’s approach to ministry is to build loving relationships with people, period. There is no membership to Home PDX, only a commitment to create a community of, as the ministry’s website describes “squatters, travelers, hipsters, middle class, [and] gutter punks.”

Home PDX gathers on Sundays from November through March in the basement of Grace Bible Church in downtown Portland and in Pioneer Courthouse Square on Tuesday nights. The rest of the year, the gatherings occur on Sunday afternoons near the Hawthorne Bridge.The people who come essentially share a meal, hand out donated clothing and toiletries, and hang out. When he does preach, Loyd uses a portable amplifier and keeps it short. And he’s not afraid to use street slang in his sermons to better connect with his audience.

Bielman likes Warner Pacific’s partnership with Home PDX because it forces students to take a hard look at their own expectations regarding the homeless.

“Most homeless ministries are run by people with homes trying to get people without homes to do certain things to better themselves by some sort of standard,” said Bielman.“Ken pushes the envelope to say, ‘Why can’t I be in relationship [with the homeless] without having those expectations on people? We don’t do that for other people. From our vantage point, what he does, and his perspectives, there are some unique things that students can learn about what ministry is and they come in with such a significant set of assumptions about community and they leave without them and they do that in a very short period of time.”

Loyd said while he was initially weary of accepting interns, he was impressed by the smart questions the Warner Pacific students asked, and how well they treated his Home PDX friends.

“The flexibility that was put in [these students] by the atmosphere of Warner Pacific enabled them to change in a matter of six weeks their perspective of life,” he said. “[That] is something I could not have done. Each one of our interns left as a friend. “

“We’re trying to get [students] to have a variety of expressions of Christian ministry, not necessarily to convert them all to these types of ministries, but somehow to hear their call in the diversity of the experiences.”

- Jess Bielman ’00 “I speak their language,“ Loyd said. “Relationship is everything downtown. If you go downtown as a middle class person to help ‘those unfortunates,’ they spot you literally down the block.The thing that sets us apart is we listen to them and we respect them, and that is what they tell us. That’s what makes us different and that’s why they are interested in our God.” Meeting Loyd and the people of Home PDX was a touchstone for many of the interns. Their internship involved going in pairs to mentorship meetings with Loyd and other church leaders, then attending regular Home PDX gatherings, either on Tuesday nights or on Sundays. Students who had never interacted with homeless people before said they felt initial apprehension that quickly dissipated.

“The first week I was a little standoffish and I didn’t know what to say,” said Michael Salisbury ’13, who grew up in the small Oregon town of Albany. “They can definitely tell when someone is not homeless and [when] someone looks like they’ve taken a shower or has clean clothes on, but … I didn’t see one person smirk at any of us and look angry.They were just happy that we were there hanging out.”

In interviews and written reflections, students described the process of wrestling with their initial assumptions about homeless people, only to come to see them as equals.

“During this internship, I feel as though my perception of our friends who live outdoors or who are under-resourced has changed,” wrote Scholtan. “I always knew intellectually that they were just people like you and me. However, my understanding was enhanced during this internship. They really do just want to sit down and talk about sports, the weather, politics, and the like. Anytime we can make a person feel valued in this life I think we are doing something right.”

One common observation students made was how well those who gathered at Home PDX helped one another. There was a strong expression of community, even to the point of some willingly going hungry to serve others.

10 The Experience | Summer 2011

W

hile Home PDX proved one of the more perspectivealtering experiences for the WP students, another internship with the organization Second Stories gave students a taste of a new twist on street-level ministry. Second Stories is a Portland-based organization intent on transforming impoverished communities and equipping churches to make community partnerships. Executive director Clark Blakeman sees his work as a bridge, connecting churches that have financial and human resources with existing social service agencies or programs. Along the way, he pushes churches to have a strong theological underpinning to their service work, rather than solely do good works for their own sake. And his view of Christian theology is rooted in the relationship inherent in the Holy Trinity.

“God’s intent was to interact relationally with himself and with humanity,” said Blakeman. “If we could strip everything away, that is where the image of God, embodied in humanity, is rooted. We are in his image because we are relational.”

One aspect of the students’ internship with Second Stories was participating in a day-long workshop entitled “Asset Based Community Development,” during which Blakeman helps churches identify how to be good neighbors and discover more ways to engage in their local community.

The second component involved staffing a hot dog cart on Friday nights on the corner of SE 82nd and Powell Boulevard, a major intersection not far from Warner Pacific’s Tabor campus. Called “Friday Night Stories,” the goal was simply to invite passersby to take a free hot dog and share a personal story.

Blakeman said that in this society, if Christians take the position of “tellers,” people will typically turn away. However, purposefully being listeners invites more authentic interaction and holds the promise of creating a relationship in which a person would later be more receptive to the gospel.

“The message is beautiful and wonderful, but in this day and age, it has no penetrability apart from an authentic, reciprocal exchange,”

Scott A. Thompson

in until she actually went on her first visit to the Lucky Labrador Pub on Hawthorne Blvd in NE Portland, one of two Portland-area locations where Evergreen meets. On Sunday mornings, Medel and other student interns helped move chairs and tables around to prepare for services that - despite the surroundings - proved much more conventional in comparison to Home PDX. “It was pretty fascinating how a pub was able to look like a service area and how well it brought people together to worship God,” Medel said.

Evergreen is a non-denominational church that supports Home PDX, as well as other nonprofit organizations. Led by pastors Bob Hyatt and Dustin Bagby, Evergreen sees itself as a “missional” community that is committed to justice, giving hope to others, and “being Christ” to the world. In addition to helping set up and tear down, the WP interns participated in the service along with regular attendees.

The services were casual and intimate. Speakers didn’t so much preach as they facilitated conversation with the group. Evergreen has a fair number of young families and older adults who want to create an environment that would be inviting to people who might hesitate going to a larger, more traditional church building.

“This is the idea that church can happen anywhere and be just as effective,” said intern Krystal Estrella ’12.

Hess appreciated the rapport between the speakers and the group.

“I like the way they did the sermon,” he said. “It made the whole experience a lot more personal and interactive. I also liked the times of silence they provided, which is lacking in many church services.”

Jacob Hess ’13 (right) and other RCM students spent internships at Evergreen Community Church, which meets in the Lucky Labrador Pub at both of its locations in NE and NW Portland.

said Blakeman. “So, we say we’re just going to practice consistently being listeners, because that is the first thing in good relationship.

And it is amazing what people want to reveal about themselves.”

The type of people who stopped by the cart was mixed, including shoppers, homeless people, workers on their way home, and young people hanging out.

“We had a sign that said, ‘Tell us a story about your hero or tell us something you would want changed in the community,’ ” said Salisbury. “We would start off with a question [as a] conversation starter. That would spark another conversation. It would go from there.”

Absolute strangers would open up about their lives, in some cases becoming quite emotional as they spoke about past hurts or mistakes. The students didn’t overtly preach about Jesus, but rather encouraged visitors to find a community where they could be heard. Some people even returned during subsequent weeks to continue conversing.

“Before the internship, I felt like the church needed to revive its call to serving the poor and needy, but at Second Stories, I have learned the importance of not just serving, but serving in a way that uplifts the one receiving the service,” said Jacob Hess ’13. “[Christ] has called us to make relationships with those in need – to share the Gospel with them through our love, to listen to those in need and make them feel worthwhile.”

A

third internship site offered a glimpse into the world of small churches meeting in uncommon places. When intern Hanna Medel ’14 first heard that the Christian church called Evergreen Community met in a pub, the reality didn’t quite sink

B

ielman believes that even if Christian Ministries students look forward to careers in more traditional church settings, exposing them to non-traditional ministerial approaches can only enhance their future careers. What awaits these students next is a semester-long internship at one ministry site that will be more catered to their strengths and interests. However, Bielman sees the process of being stirred up by the sophomore-level internships as an essential first step.

“I think what we’re doing better prepares students for traditional ministry sites,” said Bielman. “By taking insulated students, getting them comfortable with differences at Home PDX, getting them training on what it means to deal with kids in crisis, now we have a better minister for the traditional church on the other end.”

For Johnson, the program will produce students that have strong academic training, along with significant “street smarts” that will make them well-rounded ministers who just can bring some fresh vision to the broader church.

“I think we have to get students to figure out that ministry is about relationship,” said Johnson. “I think in a couple of years, we’ll be able to step back and say we have really been part of something significant in the lives of individuals, in the life of the college, in the life of the church, in the life of this urban context.”

Learn more about Warner Pacific’s Religion and Christian Ministries Program at www.warnerpacific.edu/rcm-mag Other links related to this article: www.homepdx.net www.secondstories.org www.evergreenlife.org

Summer 2011 | The Experience

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ALUMNI NEWS

60’s

Wisdom From the Streets

WP President Emeritus Jay A. Barber, Jr. ’64 has accepted the role of interim teaching pastor at Sunset Presbyterian Church, in Portland, Ore. He was also recently elected to a four-year term on the city council of Seaside, Ore., where he and his wife, Jan, currently reside.

Rev.Watson Omulokoli, Ph.D. ’66 has been appointed chancellor of Africa International University, in Nairobi, Kenya. He most recently served as a Church History and Theology professor at Kenyatta University, also in Nairobi.

Jean (Olson) Pyne ’66 recently retired from 14 years in the student services office at Washington State University - Vancouver. She is looking forward to traveling with her husband, Bill Pyne ’66, and spending more time with her five grandchildren.

70’s Louis Anderson ’70 is the senior pastor of Longs Peak Street Church of God in Brighton, Colo. His wife is Ilene Fay (Chatham) ’73. Their daughter is Stephanie (Anderson) Marquez ’07.

Dalyn Hebling ’74, who lives in Bastrop, La., was recently the evangelist for the Arkansas State Camp meeting in Hot Springs. He also preached at the North West Kansas Camp Meeting in 2006.

Dr. Chris Cottrell ’78 is a certified church peacemaker, a professional court mediator, and a part-time chaplain in Delaware, Ohio. He earned his D.Min. from Ashland Theological Seminary, in Ashland, Ohio, in 1992.

Janet Isley Rice ’79 received an Eli Lilly Sabbatical Grant. Beginning in August, she will travel on a Celtic pilgrimage to England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales for three weeks.

80’s Joel Fritzler ’86 was sworn in as mayor of Carbondale, Ill. on May 3, 2011. Fritzler works in the Office of Research Development and Administration at Southern Illinois University.

His mayoral position is part-time. Learn more on his “Joel Fritzler” Facebook page.

Psychologist Dr. Kedric Cecil ’75 writes a candid memoir using his past as a runaway teen to help others heal.

E

ven though Dr. Kedric Cecil ’75 has been a professional counselor for over twenty years, there is a part of him that still feels like a troubled street kid on the run. Decades before he earned his Ph.D. in Psychology and opened his private counseling practice in Montana, Cecil was a troubled runaway living on the streets of Seattle in the late 1950s.

In his 2010 memoir,“Wisdom from the Streets,” Cecil examines some of the painful events of his early childhood – his parents’ divorce, the move to a strange new city, and a physically abusive stepfather – that propelled him to life on the streets.

Throughout the book, Cecil presents a fictitious conversation between his grown-up therapist self and the cocky, street-smart teenager lurking beneath the surface to demonstrate the inner conflict that he so often feels.

“I finally got to a point in my life where I thought it was OK to be open enough to tell people [about] the internal process I go through,” said Cecil, speaking by phone from his home near Havre, Mont., where he teaches psychology courses at Montana State University – Northern.“The work we do with helping people find Christ, they need emotional and deeper healing. The only way they can do that is by confronting [their past].”

After being in and out of juvenile detention and group homes as a teenager, Cecil eventually graduated high Dr. Kedric Cecil ’75 school, got married, and worked odd jobs until undergoing a radical conversion to Christianity at age 24. He then started working at a Christian-based organization in Vancouver,Wash. that served troubled teens. At the same time, he enrolled at Warner Pacific to earn his bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Cecil said professors like Dr. Wilma Perry and Charles Nielsen modeled an approach to education that emphasized open and honest dialogue, encouragement, and genuine learning.That made quite an impression on Cecil, who, as a former street kid, was terrified of being seen as a failure.

“I was one of those students that was always questioning everything,” Cecil said.

“People at Warner Pacific truly gave me the opportunity to see that you could be a Christian and not check your brain at the door - that you could look honestly at truth wherever it comes and still be challenged.You can still have mystery. It’s all challenging and exciting.”

Cecil is currently working on a follow-up book that will delve deeper into the issues addressed in “Wisdom From the Streets.” For more information, visit Cecil’s website www.wisdomfromthestreets.com.

90’s Shuji Nishimura ’97 is an English teacher at Saga Kita (Saga North) Senior High School in Saga City, on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu.

He is married with two boys, ages 2 and 1.

Holly (Fugere) Birman ’99 and husband Kyle had their second child, Claire Angéle, on March 28, 2011. Their son Carter is two years old. Holly is a third grade teacher at Earl Boyles Elementary School , in Portland and just finished her 11th year teaching in the David Douglas District.

Elaine (George) ’99 and B. J. Kuykendall ’04 welcomed twin boys, Joshua Courage and Josiah Christian on July 6, 2011. They join brothers Jared, 10, Jesse, 8, Justin, 5, John, 4, and Judson, 22-months. B.J. is senior pastor of Hoodview Church of God in Woodburn, Ore.

12 The Experience | Summer 2011

Amy (Doty) Hanken ’99 and husband Chris welcomed a baby girl, Sydney, on April 14, 2011.

00’s Katti (Grenz) ’00 and Rod Baney ’99 gave birth to daughter Paeson Grace, on November 11, 2010 in Albany, Ore. Paeson Grace joins siblings Geoy, 13, Anni, 10, Jakey, 8, Jessi, 5, and Jaci, 2.

Carrie (LaVoie) ’03 and Jeff Dahlin ’10 (MEd.) welcomed a new foster child, 11-month-old “K.S,” a boy. He joins foster sister Berty, 1, and the Dahlin’s biological daughters Jenna, 4, and Aeva, 2.

Kathy Zimmerman ’03 has recently become a licensed professional counselor in the state of

Oregon and will soon receive her mental health professional license in the state of Washington.

She holds a master’s degree in counseling from George Fox University.

Amber (Chapin) ’04 and Gabe Carter ’04 welcomed the birth of son Micah on March 2, 2011.

Michelle (Hamilton) ’04 and Paul Eaton ’02 had a baby girl, Adelyn Marie, on November 9, 2010.

Trenton “Scott” Harden ’04, MMOL ’09, was recently appointed to the Wood Village (Ore.) city council to fill the remainder of seat vacated by a previous council member. Harden was a unanimous choice of the mayor and the remainContinued on page 14

Meet WP’s new Alumni Council President Garth Hamilton ’98

G

reetings, fellow Warner Pacific alumni. I graduated from Warner Pacific in 1998 with a B.A. in Religion and Christian Ministries. That same year, I married my beautiful wife Kathy (Eason) Hamilton ’98 on campus, “packing the house” in McGuire Auditorium. Kathy and I are expecting our first child, a baby girl, on September 7.

Coming from a strong family line of college supporters (the Perrys, the LaVelles, the Hamiltons), I was looking forward to attending Warner Pacific for much of my young life and my actual experience at Warner Pacific exceeded my expectations. I credit my quality education for preparing me for my ongoing tenures at Delta Airlines, as youth pastor at Aloha Church of God, and as the current WP Alumni Council President.

This is where we, the alumni of Warner Pacific, come into the picture. Our diverse experiences at Warner Pacific, the relationships that we developed there, and the impact that the college has had on our lives all add up to more than a mere history with this school. We are also vital to the future of WP! I encourage each of us to reflect upon how Warner Pacific has shaped our lives and how we can use our passions, strengths, and gifts to support the ongoing mission of the college. I encourage each of us to stay involved with Warner Pacific and to stay connected with the people who share our Warner Pacific heritage.

As God lays upon your heart the various ways that you may be able to serve (or to simply enjoy fellowship with our fellow alumni), feel free to contact me or a member of the WP staff with any creative suggestions.

Please familiarize yourselves with the exciting alumni events that are already on the calendar. I look forward to connecting with you soon!

In Christ, Garth Hamilton ’98 WP Alumni Council President

Garth ’98 and Kathy (Eason) Hamilton ’98

Nominate outstanding alumni!

We’re looking for nominations for our 2012 Distinguished Alumni, whom we will honor at Alumni Weekend, Feb. 10 - 11, 2012, on our Tabor campus. Here are the categories (open to traditional and DCP / Adult Degree nominees):

Distinguished Alumni Service Award Distinguished Alumni in Ministry Award Distinguished Alumni Legacy Award

(requires two generations of descendants to be WP alumni)

Distinguished Young Alumni Award (40 or younger) Distinguished Alumni Professional Please send nominations with descriptions to cpollard@warnerpacific.edu by Nov. 1, 2011.

ALUMNI PROFILE DeAnn Smetna ’07

Behavioral Health Clinician

I

always wanted to go into the psychology field, but put off pursuing it to raise my family. Finally, with Warner Pacific’s Adult Degree format, I was able to return to school, make a major career change, and land were I probably should have been all along - with a career in psychology.

I attended WP Smetna from 2004-2007 and graduated with a B.S. in Human Development from the Adult Degree Program. With the foundation that Warner Pacific laid, I have gone on to pursue a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from George Fox University and am currently finishing my doctorate in Behavioral Health at Arizona State University, were I expect to graduate in December.

I left Warner Pacific with master level writing and presentation skills.

When I got to the master level, I had no problem. I brag on the school and hope to teach there one day when I’m done with my schooling.

Currently, I work full-time as a behavioral health clinician working with the under served population, as a member of a behavioral health team at a community health clinic in Vancouver,Wash.

My interests lie within the field of health psychology, working with people who experience numerous psychosocial stressors, which creates somatic (body) illnesses.

My doctorate allows me to work side-by-side with primary care doctors as a fully integrated member of the medical team, helping people live more healthy and holistic lives. To date, my work has primarily included working with patients who have experienced trauma, crisis, attachment injury, sexual abuse, depression, and anxiety.

Outside of my medical work, my biggest joy comes from being married to my husband, Drew, as well as being the mother of our four wonderful children (Ashley, Andrew,Tanner, and Cole), and two pugs, and two cats.

Summer 2011 | The Experience

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ALUMNI NEWS

In Memoriam Harley Ronald Bates Former Warner Pacific employee H. Ron Bates died June 4, 2011 at the age of 76. He was born Aug. 23, 1934, in Portland, Ore. Ron worked as an appraiser in the savings and loan industry and later owned Rainbow Real Estate. At Warner Pacific, he served as Director of Planned Giving and Secretary of the Warner Pacific Foundation.

on November 20, 1941. Howard served in the Merchant Marines during World War II and later worked as a railroad brakeman and as a boiler operator. He graduated from Pacific Bible College in 1959 and began a ministry of 33 years in Oregon and California.

Survivors include daughters Sharon (Leverett) Unger ’63 and Marva (Leverett) Rhode ’65.

Tina Bailey ’12 WP junior Tina May Bailey ’12 died May 9, 2011 of a pulmonary embolism at the age of 46. She was born Dec. 11, 1964, in Denver, Colo. She transferred to WP from Clackamas Community College in 2010 to study education, in hopes of becoming a math teacher.

Andrew Lee McFadden ’97 Andrew McFadden ’97 died June 5, 2011. He was born on April 4, 1977 and grew up in Idaho. He attended Warner Pacific from 1995 to 1997. He enlisted in the Washington National Guard in April 2003 and deployed to Iraq that same year. He later was transferred to the Idaho National Guard. He received two purple hearts.

Irene E. Beaver ’51 Irene E. (Pyles) Beaver ’51 died April 10, 2011 in Derby, Kan. at age 82. She had a career as a wedding coordinator. Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Harlan Beaver ’56; brother Charles Pyles ’50; children Margo (Beaver) Corbin ’81, Michael Beaver ’78, and Marilyn (Beaver) Main ’78.

Bill Heerlein ’54 Bill Heerlein ’54 died June 28, 2011 in Vancouver, Wash. He was born on October 11, 1920 in Denver, Colo. An Army veteran, Bill served in the Pentagon in the 1940’s. Bill married Ruth Owens on May 13, 1945. Bill was a Church of God pastor in Washington, Texas, and Colorado. He also worked at Warner Pacific in the Office of the President and as Registrar. Survivors include sons Don Heerlien ’71 and Gary Heerlien and their wives Robyn (Cantrell) Heerlein ’71 and Kathy Heerlein.

Paul Keller Former business professor Paul Keller died June 8, 2011 at the age of 91. He was born Oct. 30, 1919 in Ainsworth, Neb. Paul worked for a number of years for Pacific Power & Light Company, was co-owner of Pioneer Plating Company, and sole owner of Deluxe Imports in Portland. He taught at WP in the 1970s.

Howard W. Leverett ’59 Howard Wayne Leverett ’59 died April 12, 2011. He was born on July 21, 1922 in Greeley, Colo. He married Francis Marie Parker

Continued from page 12 ing council members. He is also on the Wood Village Planning Commission.

Tiffany (Radmacher) ’06 and Kevin Carlson ’07 gave birth to a boy, Elias James Parker, on April 2, 2011.

Allyson (Blinn) Ramirez ’07 and husband Daniel had a baby boy named Gideon Daniel, on May 14, 2011.

Callie (Iannetta) Kackley ’07 and husband Justin gave birth to son Liam Michael on May 25, 2011.

Nick LaVoie ’07 and his wife, Kimberly, gave birth to son Joshua James on June 2, 2011 at Willamette Falls Hospital, in Oregon City. Joshua joins sister Abby Mae, 3. Nick is a Lab Tech for YoCream International, in Portland.

Ashley (Wells) ’07 and Cameron Marvin ’06

14 The Experience | Summer 2011

Alan McNeely ’57 Alan McNeely of McMinnville, Oregon died June 21, 2011 at the age of 77. He was born July 18, 1932 in Racine, Wis. He married Genevieve (Madson) ’65 in 1955. They had four children, including Vickie (McNeely) Brough ’80, Judy Oldham (now deceased), Greg McNeely ’86, and Bonnie McCone. Alan worked for farm equipment manufacturer Massey Ferguson and later as a computer programmer and systems analyst in the banking industry in Portland. He was also a music minister for over 40 years.

Michael M. Molzahn ’13 Battle Ground (Wash.) police officer and Adult Degree student Michael M. Molzahn ’13 accidently drowned in the Columbia River while off duty on July 3, 2011. He was 41 years old. Michael had worked for the Battle Ground Police Department since 2000, including time spent as a detective and motor officer.

Survivors include his wife, Kim, an 18-year-old son and a 13-yearold daughter.

Thelda Faye Quinn Shaffer ’55 Thelda Faye Quinn Shaffer died May 11, 2011 in Anderson, Ind. at the age of 84. She was born in New Albany, Ind. on December 29, 1926. Her ministry career included pastoral positions in Indiana and West Virginia. Survivors include her husband, Forrest E. Shaffer; a son and daughter-in-law; two grandchildren; and a brother.

gave birth to their second girl, Eden Camilah, on March 25, 2011. She joins two-year-old sister, Sophie. Cameron is working for a faith-based organization that has various relief and development projects around the world. Ashley is a part-time photographer.

Rachel (Long) Graham ’07 and her husband, Daniel, are currently affiliated with Christian Veterinary Mission and hope to begin their first three-year term in 2012 in Uganda, working with the Karamojong People.

Kara Busick ’08 has been accepted as a graduate student in Portland State University’s School of Social Work. Busick has been working as a post-adoption coordinator at Christian Family Adoptions, in Portland.

Tim Gustafson ’09 is a professional pilot based in NW Oregon who flies small corporate and charter jets. He primarily flies corporate clients along the west coast, but has also delivered lung

transplant patients to hospitals, completed federal prisoner transfers, and flown celebrities like the band Cheap Trick. Gustafson lives in Canby, Ore. with his wife and three boys, David Hackett ’11was accepted into four law schools and selected California Western School of Law in San Diego, which awarded him a career transition scholarship worth a 50 percent reduction in tuition all four years.

Tim Thomas ’07, M.Ed. ’11 has moved to China to begin teaching third grade at an international school. He completed his Master of Education degree at WP in April and is looking forward to this new experience with his wife, Heidi Thomas ’09, and their three-year-old daughter.

Please e-mail alumni updates to alumni@warnerpacific.edu

FIRST PERSON Reflections on Faith, Living, and Learning

Ambitious Vision Recently appointed to the Oregon Commission for the Blind, a WP graduate student wants to show people with disabilities they too can dream big.

By Patricia Keppler ’10

I

lost my sight thirty years ago. My eyes had always been complicated. I lost sight in my left eye when I was seven, and the retina in my right eye finally tore beyond repair when I was a college freshman in Oregon. I was very quiet and introverted and my blindness forced me to start communicating with people, which was difficult at first.

I dropped out of college, but instead of going back to my family home in California, I stayed in Oregon. I got married at age 19 and became a stay-at-home mom. My husband and I have been married 28 years and we’ve raised three children.

In 2002, I began working at Independent Living Resources (ILR), a non-profit organization in NE Portland that helps people with both physical and mental disabilities. I started on a part-time basis and now work as a full-time counselor and recreation coordinator.

The author with her guide dog, Nisha.

I’d like to think my presence in the classroom has been a learning opportunity for everyone. One of my peers once asked, in a moment of sincerity, how I was going to do it. I said, “This is what I do. This is who I am. I work. I raise kids. Just because I can’t see, doesn’t mean I can’t do it. I just do it differently.”

I admit I was terrified of doing PowerPoint presentations but I eventually did one all by myself, I’m proud to say. I need electronic versions of all my textbooks specially ordered and ready every five

I hope that wherever my fellow students go in their careers, when a person with a disability walks in their door, they’ll think, “Oh, I went to class with Patricia.”

We provide skills training, advocacy, peer counseling, and informational referral services. Among our staff, 51 percent have to have a disability. We are people with disabilities helping other people with disabilities I have about 60 people on my caseload. I need to identify what they need to become independent. Do they need to learn how to take the bus or cook for themselves? Do they need new housing, schooling, or a job?

Prior to getting this job, I faced significant discrimination looking for work. One woman actually interviewed me in the foyer of her office building because she didn’t want any hair from my guide dog in her office.Then she said,“We can’t hire you because I’m just not comfortable with you walking up and down stairs. I don’t want the responsibility.” I was thinking, “That’s why you won’t hire me?”

Ironically, she was the first person to be outright open. I could’ve sued her, but at that point, I felt too broken down and relatively worthless, as far as society was concerned. I needed to prove to myself that these people weren’t right, that I really could do something.

So, I threw myself into volunteer work. Through the Oregon Commission for the Blind, I helped form the first dragon boat racing team comprised of all-blind paddlers. We call ourselves Blind Ambition. It was through that experience that I learned about my current job.

ILR hired me based on my life experience, but eventually I realized I needed a master’s degree to strengthen my career, so I enrolled in Warner Pacific’s Adult Degree Program. I finished my bachelor’s degree in business administration last December and have continued in the Master of Management and Organizational Leadership program.

weeks. However, everybody at Warner Pacific has been wonderful.

I couldn’t have asked for a smoother transition from class to class.

I hope that wherever my fellow students go in their careers, when a person with a disability walks in their door, they’ll think, “Oh, I went to class with Patricia.”

I received a phone call this spring from the Oregon State Commission for the Blind asking me to consider filling one of three open positions on the commission. I was thrilled to receive the offer.The commission provides the blind with special equipment and training.

It helped fund my undergraduate degree and provided me with an electronic note-taker with a Braille computer display.

I am excited about my two-year appointment because it’s going to allow me to be part of setting policy, representing people with vision loss in a way that I haven’t been able to before. It’s not only a great opportunity to learn how the commission works, but also to set direction for the future.

We have a serious problem in Oregon where too many disabled youth get special education in schools, then just sit at home after they graduate and let their parents take care of them. Once their parents become elderly, or pass on, we end up with 45-year-olds who can’t do anything. That life-long helplessness is a challenge.

I want to create programs that will encourage disabled people to develop their own interests and find out what they really want for their lives, including going to college and building careers. It’s critical work, and I’m grateful for Warner Pacific’s role in helping me realize my dream.

Patricia Keppler ’10 is a counselor at Independent Living Resources, in Portland, and recently began a two-year term as a member of the Oregon Commission for the Blind. She can be reached at patricia@ilr.org.

Spring 2011

Summer 2011 | The Experience

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NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 527

Return Service Requested

Upcoming Events August 25 - 28

Welcome Week (traditional students) Mt. Tabor campus

30 Convocation

McGuire Auditorium

10:30 a.m.

September

8 Athletics Welcome Back event

C. C. Perry Gymnasium 11

14

October

Fall Fest Picnic for alumni, families, and friends Mt. Tabor campus 1 - 4 p.m. $2 per person, $8 per family

11

Campus Preview Day

Common Day of Service

More information at warnerpacific.edu or call 503.517.1026.

AN EDITOR’S FAREWELL Dear friends, After nearly ten years as editor, this represents my final issue of “The Experience” magazine. I am moving on to a position as a journalist and producer at a small media company in SW Washington.

It has been an honor over these many years to share stories that demonstrate the remarkable work that Warner Pacific College students, staff, faculty, and alumni are doing in Portland, the Pacific Northwest, and around the world.

I started as editor of the “WPC News” in the winter of 2002 and then helped establish its successor, “The Experience,” in the summer of 2003. Even with tight budgets, we strove to create a magazine that would reflect well the outstanding education that occurs at Warner Pacific — and the sacred space that our classrooms and campuses become for students, staff, and faculty alike.

Even as the magazine went through growing pains, you were always generous and supportive. For those whose stories ended up in the magazine, I want to thank you for taking our phone calls, answering questions, posing for pictures, and trusting us with your stories. I hope we did them justice.

“The Experience” magazine has been a wonderful, often confounding, but always inspiring puzzle that managed to take shape in surprising and profound ways. I will dearly miss it and the remarkable community it represents.

All the best,

Scott A.Thompson